Strapless brassiere



Jan. 21, 1947. FOLB STRAPLESS BRASSIERE Filed Dec. 5, 1945 v Patented Jan. 21, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE 2,414,590 s'rnArLEss nnassmmi Henry Folb, Brooklyn, N. Y. Application December 5, 1945, Serial No. 633,017

Claims. (01. 2-302) This invention relates to women's apparel, and more particularly to a means for supporting a garment that is strapless and shoulderless.

An object of this invention is to provide a form or skeleton structure to support a garment for women suitable to bewom with evening dresses and other dresses or blouses made of sheer materials.

A further object is toprovide a form or skeleton structure to support a garment above the waistline and at the same time to hold a brassire securely in position without the use of shoulder straps.

Another object is to form a skeleton structure or form capable of supporting the brassiere and the upper or bodice portion of a garment in position above the waistline.

Still another object is to provide a, skeleton structure that can be used as a form for the support of a strapless brassire.

A further object is to form the skeleton structure with a belt portion that can be swung open oi-rotated to permit the form to be put on or taken off comfortably and easily.

Another object is to provide a skeleton structure or form of the kind specified that is fashionably designed and sturdily built for comfort and long usage. i

I accomplish these and other objects by providing a skeleton structure comprised of a hinged belt and lateral, rib-like, upright chest members shaped to conform to the parts of the wearers body that they enfold and capable of accommodating themselves to its usual-movements.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a front view of a. strapless garment incorporating the invention herein.

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the garment shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the skeleton structure underlying the upper portion of the garment.

Fig. '5 is a perspective view of the skeleton structure shown in Fig. 4 with the belt unfastened and swung on its hinge.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of a detail of the skeleton structure.

In the drawing and in the specification m which like numerals designate similar elements,

a strapless garment III is shown in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, and inside it, is shown the relative position of the usual brassiere II.

The garment ID has a skirt portion 13 extending downwardly from the waistline H, a strapless and shoulderless upper or bodice portion l5 extending upwardly from the waistline, and supporting these is a skeleton structure or form it, the object of the present invention.

The skeleton structure or form I6 is formed of a hinged belt I'I, two forward lateral upright members l8, two rearward lateral rib-like upright members l9, and two upper chest members 20. The belt portion I! has cut away portions 2| to reduce its weight and to enhance its comfort, and consists of two parts 22 rotatably joined by a hinge 23 positioned at the back of the belt, an elastic segment 24 and coacting hook and eye means 25, both in the front of the belt, although the back or side would serve equally as we 1.

Except for the elastic segment 24, the other parts of the skeleton structure Ii can be made of metal or plastic and must be stiflly yielding, that is to say, they must have sufficient stiffness to perform their respective supporting functions as will appear later, and must also be able to accommodate themselves to the movements of the body without causing discomfort to the wearer.

Since the garment H) has no shoulders or straps, it is evident that the function of the belt I1 is to grip the body of the wearer about the waistline It to prevent the garment from falling down or shifting. The function of therib-like members 18, I9 and 20 is to maintain the upper portion l5 of the garment and the brassiere l2 in position above the waistline.

The forward lateral upright members l8 are positioned on opposite sides of the belt 11, as are the rearward lateral upright members l9, forming a pair of forward and rearward members on each side. Each pair of ribs extends upwardly and outwardly conforming to the contour of a human body and the members of each pair merge in the vicinity of the chest at its side to form a kind of arch. Each upper chest member 20 extends from the juncture of a pair of forward and rearward members at a side of the chest upwardly, forwardly and then slightly downwardly to a terminus above a breast of a female body, half encircling it, the chest members 20 being shaped to conform thereto.

Each of the rearward lateral upright members It has an opening 28 which is capable oi coacting with an attaching means 27 on the brassiere l2 to hold it secm'ely in place. The upper portion 15 of the slip is positioned over and held up by the members I8, I! and 20. The brassiere I2 is positioned under the slip and the slip and brassiere are backless in the sense used in referring to evening dresses, being cut to expose a considerable area of the back of thewearer.

- It is evident from the foregoing description that the skeleton structure or form It and the brassiere I! can also be used in combination without upper chest members 20, the skeleton l6 merely functioning as a means for the support of a strapless brassiere or a strapless evening gown.

If this is desired it is merely necessary to attach member 2| by any suitable detachable means at the point where members I! and I! merge, thus making it possible to utilize the present construction either with or without upper chest members 2|, in which case hinge 23 may be eliminated entirely, By providing hinge means at the juncture of members It and: I9, it would be possible to construct members 20 of one continuous piece extending across to opposite members II and IS, instead of separately as previously described.

This construction may be satisfactorily built in as a part of the usual foundation garment making it necessary for the wearer to wear merely one under-garment. It could also, if desired,- have attached to the form any suitable structural supporting or shaping means for the bosom.

It is to be understood that belt I1 may be made of any material such as metals, plastics, buckram or any other suitable material.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is tobe understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in theappended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A form to support a strapless garment, the form comprising a belt, two pairs of lateral riblike members, and two rib-like upper chest members, the belt being openable and being provided with two arcuate elements, a hinge, an elastic portion, and fastening means, the arcuate elements being stiilly resilient and shaped to fit around a womans waist, the hinge rotatably joining the arcuate elements, the elastic portion being secured to one of the arcuate elements, and the fastening means detachably securing the free ends of the belt, each side of the belt carrying a pair of the lateral members, each side pair extending upwardly and curving outwardly, the members of each pair joining in the vicinity of the chest, and each chest member extending upwardly, forwardly and then downwardly from the juncture of a side pair to partly encircle a breast of the wearer, the lateral and upper chest ribs being stiif enough to support the garment and yielding enough to accommodate themselves readily to the contours of the body when at rest or in motion.

2. A form to support a strapless garment, the form comprising a belt, two pairs of lateral riblikemembers, and two rib-like upper chest members, the belt being openable and being provided with two arcuate elements, a hinge, an elastic portion, and a fastening means, the arcuate elements being stiflly resilient and shaped to fit around a womans waist and having portions cut away to lighten the weight, the hinge rotatably Joining the arcuate elements, the elastic portion being secured to one of the arcuate elements, and the fastening means detachably securing the free ends of the belt, each side of the belt carrying a pair of the lateral members, each side pair extending upwardly and curving-outwardly, the members of each pair joining in the vicinity oi of the wearer, the lateral and upper chest ribs being still enough to support the garment and yielding enough to accommodate themselves readily to the contours of the body when at rest or in motion. a

3. A form to support strapless garment, the

portion, and fastening means, the arcuate elements being stlmy resilient and shaped to ilt ing secured to one of the arcuate elements, and the fastening means detachably securing the free ends of the belt, each side of the belt carrying a pair of the lateral members, each side pair exside being provided with attaching means to secure a brassire thereto, and each chest member extending upwardly, forwardly and then downwardly from the juncture of a side pair to partly encircle a breast of the wearer, the lateral and upper chest, ribs being stiff enough to support the garment and yielding enough to accommodate themselves readily to the contours of the body when at rest or in motion.

4. A form to support a strapless brassire or slip, comprising an openable belt adapted to fit around a womans waist, two pairs of lateral riblike members disposed about the sides of the belt, each side pair extending upwardly and joining in the vicinity of the chest and two rib-like upper chest members, each extending from the juncture of a side pair to partly encircle a. breast of the wearer, the lateral and upper chest members being stifl. enough to support the brassiere or upper part of the slip and yielding enough to accommodate themselves readily to the contours of the body when in motion. or at case.

5. A form to support a strapless brasslre or slip, comprising an openable belt adapted to fit around a womans waist and having a hinge therein, two pairs of lateral rib-like members disposed about the sides of the belt, each side pair extending upwardly and joining in the vicinity of the chest, and two rib-like upper chest members, each extending from the juncture of a side pair to partly encircle a breast of the wearer, the lateral and upper chest members being stifl enough to support the brassire or upper part of the slip and yielding enough to accommodate themselves readily to the contours of the body when in motion or at ease.

6. A form to support a strapless brassiere or slip, comprising an openable belt adapted to fit around a womans waist and having a hinge therein, two pairs of lateral rib-like members disposed about the sides of the belt, each side pair extending upwardly and joining in the vicinity of the chest, the rearward lateral member on each side being provided with attaching means to secure the brassiere thereto, and two rib-like upper chest members, each extending from the juncture of a side pair to partly encircle a breast of the wearer, the lateral and upper chest members being stiff enough to support the brassire or upper part of the slip and yielding enough to accommodate themselves readily to the contours of the body when in motion or at ease.

'7. The combination of a strapless brassiere, a form to support it, and attaching means to secure them together detachably, the form comprising a belt, two pairs or lateral rib-like members and two rib-like upper chest members, the belt being openable and having two stifliy resilient arcuate elements and a hinge rotatably joining them, each pair of lateral members extending upwardly from a side of the belt and joining in the vicinity of the chest, and each upper chest member extending from the juncture of a side pair to partly encircle a breast of the wearer, the lateral and upper chest members being stiffly resilient.

8. The combination of a strapless brassiere, a form to support it, and attaching means to secure them together detachably, the form comprising a belt, two pairs of lateral rib-like members and two rib-dike upper chest openable and having two stifliy resilient arcuate elements and a hinge rotatably joining them, an elastic portion secured to one of the arcuate elements and fastening means detachably securing the free ends of the belt, each pair or lateral members extending upwardly from a side of the belt and joining in the vicinity of the chest, the rearward lateral member on each side being detachably secured to the brassiere by the attachin: means. and each upper chest member extendmembers, the belt being r ing from the juncture of a side pair to partly encircle a breast of the wearer, the lateral and upper chest members being stimy resilient.

9. The combination of a strapless brassiere, a form to support it, and attaching means to secure them together detachably, the form comprising a belt, two pairs of lateral rib-like members 7 partly encircle a breast or the wearer, the lateral and upper chest members being stifliy resilient.

10. The combination of a strapless brassiere, a form to support it, and attaching means to secure them together detachably, the form comprising a belt, two pairs of lateral r'b-like members and two rib-like upper chest members, the belt bein openable and having two, stiflly resilient arcuate elements and a hinge rotatably joining them, an elastic portion secured to one or the arcuate-elements and fastening means detachably securing the free ends of the belt, each pair of lateral members extending upwardly from a side of the belt and joining in the vicinity of the chest, the rearward lateralmember on each side being de- .tachably secured to the brassere by the attaching means, and one upper chest member extending across the chest, the lateral and upper chest members being stifliy resilient.

HENRY FOLB. 

